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Jeremy Haskins’ invention earns Best New Product award at national expo

Tue, 12/05/2017 - 2:00amadmin

Jeremy Haskins, right, received the Best New Product award from American Public Works Association president Bo Mills during the association’s PWX conference in late August in Orlando, Florida. Jeremy, son of the late Jerry Haskins and grandson of the late Charles and Juanita Haskins, formerly of Brixey, is the founder of HoleHat, a manhole safety cover that is now being used by municipal utilities in metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, California.

Jeremy Haskins, P.E., of Scottsdale, Arizona, invented HoleHat, a portable manhole safety cover now being used by municipal utilities to help prevent falls and injuries. The invention earned him the prestigious Best New Product award at the American Public Works Association PWX Expo held in late August in Orlando, Florida.

Having worked for many years in the construction industry, specifically the municipal utilities sector, Haskins observed a safety hazard when crews worked on utility repairs around manholes. The safety hazard was proven real when he watched a worker fall into a 28-foot manhole and had the helpless feeling of standing at the top and yelling down to the worker, hoping for a response. Luckily, the field technician survived, and that incident was the beginning of HoleHat.

The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation recently added HoleHat as a part of its safety protocol for accessing manholes. Haskins is also working on licensing agreements in other countries, including New Zealand and Australia.

Gainesville senior Annie Noah on Dec. 8 signed a letter of intent to play basketball for College of the Ozarks. Seated, from left: Annie’s mother Joyce Noah, Annie, and her father, Dan Noah. Back: College of the Ozarks Lady Bobcats head basketball coach Becky Vest and Gainesville High School head basketball coach Morris Jenkins. Photo by Karla Smith.